What is independent evolution?

Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or epochs in time. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last common ancestor of those groups.

Similarly, what could cause similar traits to evolve independently in different species?

In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related (not monophyletic), independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

Likewise, what are 2 examples of convergent evolution? Some Other Examples of Convergent Evolution Streamlined body shape of dolphins, sharks and (extinct) ichthyosaurs. The evolution of echolocation in whales and bats. The paired shell shape of bivalve mollusks and brachiopods. The silk producing ability of spiders, silk worms, silk moths and weaver ants.

In this manner, what are examples of convergent evolution?

Examples of convergent evolution include the relationship between bat and insect wings, shark and dolphin bodies, and vertebrate and cephalopod eyes. Analogous structures arise from convergent evolution, but homologous structures do not.

What are the 4 types of evolution?

Figure%: Types of evolution; a)divergent, b)convergent, and c)parallel.

Divergent Evolution. When people hear the word "evolution," they most commonly think of divergent evolution, the evolutionary pattern in which two species gradually become increasingly different.
Convergent Evolution.
Parallel Evolution.

39 Related Question Answers Found

What is an example of homology?

A common example of homologous structures is the forelimbs of vertebrates, where the wings of bats and birds, the arms of primates, the front flippers of whales and the forelegs of four-legged vertebrates like dogs and crocodiles are all derived from the same ancestral tetrapod structure.

What are some examples of coevolution?

Coevolution Examples

Predator-Prey Coevolution. The predator-prey relationship is one of the most common examples of coevolution.
Herbivores and plants.
Acacia ants and Acacias.
Flowering Plants and Pollinators.

What is an example of parallel evolution?

Parallel evolution. biology. Parallel evolution, the evolution of geographically separated groups in such a way that they show morphological resemblances. A notable example is the similarity shown by the marsupial mammals of Australia to the placental mammals elsewhere.

What is the difference between convergent and parallel evolution?

Strictly speaking, convergent evolution occurs when descendants resemble each other more than their ancestors did with respect to some feature. Parallel evolution implies that two or more lineages have changed in similar ways, so that the evolved descendants are as similar to each other as their ancestors were.

What is coevolution in biology?

In biology, coevolution occurs when two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution through the process of natural selection. Charles Darwin mentioned evolutionary interactions between flowering plants and insects in On the Origin of Species (1859).

When would convergent evolution occur?

Convergent evolution is a process in biology. It occurs when two species from unrelated lines develop the same traits or features. This happens because they live in similar habitats, and have to develop solutions to the same kind of problems. Similarity in traits can occur in two ways.

What is a homologous trait?

Homologous traits are traits that are similar to one another due to shared ancestry. As species adapt to their environments and evolve over time, these traits may change in appearance and in function, but ultimately they still share the structure, genetics, or embryonic structure of their common ancestor.

What is a vestigial trait?

A "vestigial structure" or "vestigial organ" is an anatomical feature or behavior that no longer seems to have a purpose in the current form of an organism of the given species. Often, these vestigial structures were organs that performed some important functions in the organism at one point in the past.

How does divergent evolution occur?

Divergent evolution occurs when a group from a specific population develops into a new species. Divergent evolution leads to speciation, or the development of a new species. Divergence can occur when looking at any group of related organisms. The differences are produced from the different selective pressures.

What is parallel adaptation?

Definition. An evolutionary process by which two or more separate species in the same environment develop similar adaptation or characteristic for survival. Supplement. Parallel evolution refers to the evolutionary process wherein two or more species in the same environment develop similar adaptation or characteristics

What is meant by divergent evolution?

Divergent evolution is the process whereby groups from the same common ancestor evolve and accumulate differences, resulting in the formation of new species. Divergent evolution may occur as a response to changes in abiotic factors, such as a change in environmental conditions, or when a new niche becomes available.

Why is convergent evolution important?

Convergent evolution is when different organisms independently evolve similar traits. Yet despite their winding paths, both animals ended up in similar evolutionary niches: streamlined swimmers with smooth skin and water-slicing fins ideal for chasing down prey. Each of Earth's habitats presents its own challenges.

What is analogous structure?

In evolutionary biology, analogous structures are defined as biological structures having similar or corresponding function but not from the same evolutionary origin. In other words, species use these biological structures for the same purpose and yet these species are from unrelated evolutionary lines.

What is divergent evolution give example?

In divergent evolution, two or more distinct species share a common ancestor from which they diverged. A common example is a modern elephant and woolly mammoth. They share a common ancestor and yet evolved into two different species. Another example is the dog, the wolf, and the fox.

What is the difference between convergent and divergent evolution quizlet?

Homologous structures are evidence of divergent evolution. What is Convergent Evolution? A pattern of evolution which similar traits arise in two or more unrelated species. It describes the processes by which a large number of new species evolve over a relatively short period of time from a common ancestor.

How does natural selection explain convergent evolution?

Convergent evolution is the process by which unrelated or distantly related organisms evolve similar body forms, coloration, organs, and adaptations. Natural selection can result in evolutionary convergence under several different circumstances.

What is the concept of natural selection?

natural selection. The process by which organisms that are better suited to their environment than others produce more offspring. As a result of natural selection, the proportion of organisms in a species with characteristics that are adaptive to a given environment increases with each generation.